Friday Night Lights (TV series) ﻩ

I LOVE THIS SERIAL!

Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler) and his family. The show uses this small town backdrop to address many issues facing contemporary American culture, including school funding, racism, drugs, abortion, and lack of economic opportunities.

Produced by NBCUniversal, Friday Night Lights premiered on October 3, 2006, airing for two seasons on NBC. Facing cancelling the series, NBC struck a deal with DirecTV that saw the next three seasons of the show air first on DirecTV's The 101 Network before being rebroadcast on NBC after The 101 Network had completed airing the season. The series ended its run on The 101 Network after five seasons on February 9, 2011.

Friday Night Lights never obtained a sizable audience. It was a critical success, however, lauded for its realistic portrayal of Middle America and deep personal exploration of its central characters. The show was awarded a Peabody Award, a Humanitas Prize, and a Television Critics Association Award, as well as several technical Primetime Emmy Awards. At the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards the show was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton also scored multiple nominations for the Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress awards for a drama series. Executive producer Jason Katims was also nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series. Both Chandler and Katims won the Emmy in 2011.

Plot

Characters


As a show about the community of Dillon, Texas and how the high school football team affects the town as a whole, Friday Night Lights has an ensemble cast. While screen time of characters varies from episode to episode, the show is most focused on Panthers' football coach Eric Taylor (Kyle Chandler), who strives to balance his emphasis on family, his status in a sometimes confrontational community, and his personal ambitions. His family - wife Tami Taylor (Connie Britton), a guidance counselor turned principal at Dillon High, and teenage daughter Julie Taylor (Aimee Teegarden) - are also central to the show. When Tami becomes pregnant and gives birth to Gracie Taylor, tensions within the family increase and Julie becomes more rebellious.

Outside of the Taylor family, the show focuses on the respective lives of the Dillon's high school football players. In the series' first episode, star quarterback Jason Street (Scott Porter) suffers an injury that leads to an end to his football career and a disability that he resists and then learns to cope with throughout the series. Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly), who at the time of Jason's injury was his girlfriend, parallels his story, as she goes from a Panther cheerleader to a Christian youth leader.

As a result of Jason's injury, shy and nervous Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) becomes the Panthers' starting quarterback and eventually dates Julie. It is also revealed that Matt's father is serving in Iraq and that he must therefore care for his grandmother Lorraine Saracen (Louanne Stephens) by himself, with help only from his best friend Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons), and eventual live-in nurse and love interest Carlotta Alonso (Daniella Alonso). Brash star running back Brian "Smash" Williams's (Gaius Charles) quest for a college football scholarship and fullback Tim Riggins' (Taylor Kitsch) tale of on-and-off alcoholism and party-life are told as well. Tyra Collette (Adrianne Palicki) also stars as a town vixen who goes from Tim's occasional girlfriend to Landry's lover following Landry's defense of her from a rapist.

Story


Season One


Season one revolves around two main events: the ascension of coach Eric Taylor to the position of head coach and the paralysis of star quarterback Jason Street. These two events set off a chain reaction that leads the series through its first season.

Coach Taylor's career depends on his ability to get the Dillon Panthers to the state championship. If the team suffers a losing streak, he knows his family, which includes daughter Julie, will no longer be welcome in Dillon.

Meanwhile, Tami Taylor lands a job as a counselor at the local high school. Over the course of the season, she becomes a support and a mentor to many of the students and her position plays a pivotal role in the season finale, which leaves viewers wondering whether Eric will leave Dillon to accept a coveted coaching job with a university.

Matt Saracen and Jason Street must struggle against seemingly insurmountable odds. Street must learn to live without the use of his legs in a town that seems to be moving on without him, while Saracen must rise to be worthy of the position he has inherited. As Street's friendship with Herc, his rehab roommate and wheelchair rugby teammate, grows stronger, so does his will and independence. The new role of QB1 is an unenviable task for the timid Matt, as he also must care for his ill grandmother while his father is fighting in Iraq. Causing further headaches, Matt falls in love with Coach Taylor's daughter, Julie, who loathes Texas life and dislikes football. She nevertheless falls for Matt because of his bumbling awkwardness and, above all, his modest decency. Their relationship slowly blossoms over the course of the season.

Also explored is the pressure on the cocky, driven Brian "Smash" Williams. Easily the most promising player on the Panthers' roster, he works hard to achieve excellence and sees his future career as instrumental in providing his family a better life. Life has been hard for Williams' family since his father was killed in a car accident, and financial constraints have led his mother Corrine to take multiple jobs just to get the family by. At one point, he decides that he's willing to risk his health by using performance enhancing drugs to make sure he gets a college football scholarship.

Tim Riggins is an unfocused alcoholic with absentee parents and no prospects beyond high school. However, he is shown to be a loyal friend with a good heart. Unfortunately, his good intentions seem to be repeatedly derailed by his own missteps.

Tyra Collette, like many of the other characters, comes from a broken home, where her mom falls in and out of abusive relationships. Tyra begins the season as Tim’s girlfriend, but as Season One progresses, thanks to Tami Taylor and Landry Clark — the school math geek and Saracen’s best friend — she starts to see the faintest glimmer of hope that she might get out of Dillon and discontinue the cycle that her mother and her sister (a stripper) seem destined to continue.

Meanwhile, Lyla goes through some of the biggest changes as she begins the season as a bubbly, optimistic, sweet-natured girl. Faced with the heartbreaking reality of Jason's injury, she begins seeing Tim Riggins to cope with her frustration. Though Jason and Lyla reconcile after he becomes aware of this, Jason begins growing closer to another woman and at the same time Lyla learns about her father's many adulterous affairs. It is at this point that Lyla moves past her dependence on other men to grow into a more independent woman.

Season Two


Season two begins with Coach Taylor in Austin with a new college coaching job at fictional TMU, while Tami is in Dillon with their newborn baby. However, as the Panthers experience internal difficulties with a new coach, and as Tami forges a new relationship with her replacement counselor at the school, Coach Taylor decides to return to Dillon. Even with his return, his daughter Julie begins to frustrate her mother, as she ends her romantic relationship with Matt and begins one with an older man, "The Swede." This trend continues as she begins a friendship with a teacher that her mother feels is inappropriate.

Meanwhile, Coach Taylor attempts to win games with the Panthers but faces a number of issues. Tim is banned from the team as a result of missing a game to convince Jason to not have stem-cell surgery in Mexico. This leads to difficulties for Tim, who eventually ends up homeless before being taken back onto the team and returning to live with his brother.

Lyla Garrity becomes increasingly involved in an organization for young Christians. She befriends a young convict, Santiago, who eventually is placed under the legal care of her father. Under Buddy's prompting, Santiago becomes the new linebacker for the Panthers.

At the same time, Smash is courted by a number of college recruiters, leading to tension between him and his mother. Smash accepts a scholarship to the prestigious TMU. However, Smash punches a white teenager who sexually harasses his sister when they're at the movies. This turns into a blown-out-of-proportion racial incident, and Smash is deemed someone to have "character issues". His scholarship to TMU is revoked. He later commits to Whitmore University, a smaller historically black college that is more highly regarded for its academics than its athletic programs. The football coach at Whitmore has a strong relationship with Coach Taylor, and had been scouting Smash since he was in middle school.

Matt, on the other hand, begins a relationship with a cheerleader before leaving her for his grandmother's new live-in nurse, Carlotta.

Additionally, the early season follows an arc where Landry kills and hides the body of a man who attempted to rape Tyra, leading to a romance between the two. Eventually, guilt builds within Landry and he confesses. Charges are not pressed, although tension between him and Tyra remains.

Jason Street impregnates a woman in what was supposed to be a one-night stand at the end of season two. Jason pleads with the woman to keep the child and promises to take care of the two.

This season ends on a cliffhanger due to the writer's strike. The show's head writer and executive producer, Jason Katims, stated that this last episode was “not in any way viewed as the season finale... If we were leading to the end of the season [under normal circumstances], we would have most likely brought the story around to the coach and his family again,” and there would have been a strong football element as well, Katims said. Seven of the 22 episodes NBC ordered for Season 2 weren’t made.

Season Three


The season began with Coach Taylor having failed to lead the Panthers to another State championship the year before, creating new pressure for him. Quarterback Matt Saracen's position is threatened by the arrival of freshman J.D. McCoy, an amazing natural talent who comes from a rich family with an overbearing father, Joe. Matt moves to wide receiver after Taylor names J.D McCoy the starting quarterback, but Matt is pushed back into his former role in the playoffs. He and Julie reconcile and rekindle their romance.

Smash Williams, who injured his knee during the previous year's playoffs, rediscovers his love for the game, gets a tryout with a college, and succeeds in winning a spot on their team. Tyra starts dating a cowboy named Cash, leading to complications in her relationship with Landry. Tim and Lyla start dating, and Tim pursues a college football scholarship. Billy Riggins gets engaged to Tyra's older sister Mindy. He, Tim, Herc, and Jason decide to flip Buddy Garrity's house for a profit. Jason Street eventually finds a job at a sports agency in New York City and moves to the northeast to be close to his girlfriend and newborn baby. Tami Taylor becomes the principal of Dillon High School and fights with Buddy Garrity about the allocation of funds toward a Jumbotron.

While Eric Taylor and Buddy Garrity were making a visit to a possible recruit who just moved into town, the coach learns of a plot to have him replaced as head coach of the Dillon Panthers. They learn that Joe McCoy wants Taylor replaced with Wade Aikman, J.D.'s personal coach. After the school's administration meets to decide who gets the coaching job, Aikman is offered the job at Dillon High School, while Taylor is offered the job of coaching the Lions of East Dillon High, which is reopening after years of being closed...

Season Four

Season 4 kicks off with Eric Taylor struggling as the East Dillon High coach. The team, field, and conditions are a complete change from the privileged and sparkling conditions at West Dillon.

As Coach begins putting together his new Lion team, he realizes that he's in for more than he bargained for. The players that try out are less than desirable, but Coach gets a lucky break with a couple of new faces. The first is Vince Howard, a black student who has gotten in trouble with the law too many times. He is given one last chance if he plays football for the East Dillon Lions. Although he has no prior experience, he has natural talent and becomes the team's first star quarterback. The second break comes to the Lions when Buddy Garrity reveals to Eric that the address on file for the Panthers new prodigy running back, Luke Cafferty, is nothing more than a mailbox in front of an empty lot, and Luke is really zoned to go to East Dillon.

The football season is one focused around growth and reestablishing a sense of Lion pride. The culmination of their hard work is tested in their last game of the season as they play The Dillon Panthers led by JD McCoy. In an amazing show of perseverance, the East Dillon Lions defeat the Dillon panthers, ruining the Panthers' chance at playoffs.

In season four, the character Matt Saracen struggles with staying in Dillon and living as a townie. After returning from a hunting trip with Tim Riggins, he finds out that his father was killed in Iraq. The episode "The Son" shows Matt going through the five stages of grief as he comes to accept the death of his father, a man he claims to hate. This episode garnered much buzz online and resulted in a failed campaign for Zach Gilford to get an Emmy nomination in the guest actor category, however the episode did get an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series. After this emotionally charged episode, Matt abruptly moves to Chicago without saying goodbye to his girlfriend or best friend. He returns briefly in the finale and makes amends with both Julie and Landry, who ends up flying back to Chicago with Matt.

The character of Tim Riggins has developed over time from an unfocused and moody alcoholic to a young man of character and dependability. Sometimes that dependability is reflected in his uncanny ability to make the wrong choices for the right reasons, which usually involve his brother. Even though he has proven his ability to help others correct their misguided choices, unfortunately there is no one who does this for Tim. In this season, his irresponsible, headstrong, but lovable brother again entices Tim into another wrong choice by convincing Tim that the only way they can make any money is by transforming their newly opened garage into a chop shop. Just as they finally end this side business and Tim has enough for the down payment on a large amount of land he's been dreaming about, the police show up to arrest him at the garage. True to his character, he makes the decision to take the rap and allows his brother to be with his new wife and child. The season ends as Tim walks toward the jail.

Season Five


Season 5, the final season, opens with summer wrapping up in Dillon: Billy Riggins joins Coach Taylor as a special teams coach for the East Dillon Lions. Tami is the new guidance counselor at East Dillon, where she is faced with the challenge of a particularly difficult student named Epyck. Landry is departing for Rice University, and Tim Riggins has three more months in jail. Becky experiences turmoil in her living situation and moves in with Billy and Mindy while developing a closer relationship with Luke. With Vince leading the Lions, along with Luke Cafferty, new recruit Hastings Ruckle, and the rest of the team standing strong behind him, Eric Taylor has strong hopes for the team to go to state. But as Vince's past comes back to haunt him, it seems that the team will have to deal with struggles off the field, as well as on. Vince's troubles also cause his relationship with Jess to take a hit. Julie's college experience is nothing like she imagined and she is forced to take a good look at what she wants. Buddy Garrity becomes a father again when Buddy Jr., who developed problems in California, is sent back to Dillon to get help from his father.

In the last episode, East Dillon wins the state championship after Coach Taylor and Vince share a moment of respect for each other. Coach Taylor then moves with his wife to Philadelphia as she accepts the job as Dean of Admissions at a prestigious school, and the show ends showing them living happily. Julie is engaged with Matt and lives with him in Chicago. Vince is the quarterback of the "Superteam" of East/West Dillon joined with Buddy Jr. and Tinker. Tim Riggins is building a house on his land with the help of his brother who is expecting twins with Mindy. Luke Cafferty is seen with Becky at the bus depot departing for the Army.

The Secret Circle (TV series)☁

The Secret Circle is an American television series broadcast on The CW Television Network. It was developed by Andrew Miller, based on the book series of the same name written by L. J. Smith. On May 17, 2011, The CW announced they had picked up the pilot as a series. It premiered on Thursday, September 15, 2011.

On October 12, 2011, The CW ordered a full first season of the series, which will consist of 22 episodes.

Cast

Britt Robertson portrays Cassie Blake, the series central character, who is a newly discovered witch. She moves to Chance Harbor after her mother Amelia is killed and joins the Secret Circle, a group with five other witches. She is secretly attracted to Adam Conant even though he was Diana's boyfriend when they met. Now Cassie might be attracted to Nick's brother Jake since he came into town. Thomas Dekker portrays Adam Conant, who is one of the two male members of The Secret Circle. He shows Cassie the secret of her family history and feels drawn to her, even though he wasn't single.

Charles Meade, played by Gale Harold, is the father of Diana Meade, and the main antagonist. At the start of the series, he is shown to be the man who caused the fire that killed Cassie's mother, Amelia Blake. Phoebe Tonkin plays Faye Chamberlain, the daughter of Principal Chamberlain, who is the reckless one of the group. She uses her magic for her own selfish desires and struggles for power within the group. Diana Meade, portrayed by Shelley Hennig, is a smart and classic beauty, and assumed leader of the coven. She quickly befriends Cassie with her positive and infectious attitude and gets her to put her magical powers to good use. Melissa Glaser, played by Jessica Parker Kennedy, is best friends with Faye, and an insecure girl. In the beginning, she feels she is in Faye's shadow and must learn to face her insecurities and become her own person. Jane Blake, portrayed by Ashley Crow, is Cassie's grandmother, whom she lives with in Chance Harbor Nick Armstrong, portrayed by Louis Hunter, is the second male member of The Secret Circle. He lives with his uncle in a house next door to Cassie. He is known as a bad boy with a great physique, which he uses to his advantage. Dawn Chamberlain, played by Natasha Henstridge, is principal of the school which all of the coven attend. She is shown to care for her students and protect the coven, but unbeknownst to the world she is working with Charles Meade.

Recurring characters for the first season include, Chris Zylka as Jake, Nick's brother, Emily Holmes as Amelia Blake, Adam Harrington as Ethan Conant, Bianca Lawson as Karima Glaser, Dustin Milligan as Jamie Dollanger and Logan Browning as Sally Matthews.

Ugly Betty ☂

Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty is an American comedy-drama television series developed by Silvio Horta, which premiered on ABC on September 28, 2006, and ended on April 14, 2010. The series revolves around the character Betty Suarez and is based on Fernando Gaitán's Colombian telenovela soap opera Yo soy Betty, la fea. The series was produced by Silent H, Ventanarosa and Reveille Productions partnered with ABC Studios and executive produced by Salma Hayek, Silvio Horta, Ben Silverman, Jose Tamez and Joel Fields. The pilot was filmed in New York; seasons one and two were filmed in Los Angeles and seasons three and four in New York City.

During its first three seasons, it aired on Thursday nights, where it was mostly successful. However, viewership dropped significantly in the show's third season, particularly in the important 18–49 age group. In October 2009, the series was moved to Fridays, where it had trouble finding an audience. The backlash from its fans prompted ABC to move the show to Wednesdays at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central starting January 6, 2010, where it was thought that it would better complement its Wednesday hits Modern Family and Cougar Town, but on January 27, 2010, ABC announced it was cancelling the series due to low ratings. With the end of the series, there was talk of a push by Ana Ortiz and America Ferrera for an Ugly Betty movie.

 Plot

Betty Suarez is a 22 year old Mexican American woman from Queens, New York who is sorely lacking in fashion sense. She is known to be courageous, good-hearted, and slightly naïve. She is abruptly thrust into a different world when she lands a job at Mode, a trendy high fashion magazine based in Manhattan that is part of the publishing empire of the wealthy Bradford Meade. Bradford's son Daniel has just been installed as Editor-in-Chief of Mode following the death of Fey Sommers (Bradford's longtime mistress). Bradford hires the inexperienced Betty as his womanizing son's newest personal assistant to curb Daniel's habit of sleeping with his assistants. As time goes by, Betty and Daniel become friends and help each other navigate their professional and personal lives.

Life at Mode is made difficult for both Betty and Daniel by their co-workers. Their most serious threat comes from Creative Director Wilhelmina Slater, a vindictive schemer who devises numerous plots to steal Daniel's job and seize control of his family's company. In addition, Wilhelmina's loyal assistant Marc St. James and Mode receptionist Amanda Sommers continually mock and humiliate Betty for her lackluster physical appearance, awkward nature, and initial lack of taste in fashion. However, not everyone at Mode is against Betty; she gains loyal friends in Scottish seamstress Christina McKinney and nerdy accountant Henry Grubstick. She also receives strong support from her father Ignacio, older sister Hilda, and nephew Justin. During the show's episodes, however, she also sort of befriends Marc St. James and Amanda Sommers, the first being her neighbour in the last season, who also helped Justin with his coming out, and the latter even being her roommate for some time. Season 1
Main article: Ugly Betty (season 1)

Season one premiered in the United States on September 28, 2006 and aired 23 episodes. Major plotlines during the first season include: Betty and Daniel settling into their respective roles as personal assistant and editor-in-chief at a fashion magazine; Betty's relationships with pre-Mode boyfriend Walter and new love interest Henry; Daniel's numerous sexual conquests and his relationship with fellow editor Sofia Reyes (Salma Hayek); Wilhelmina's plots with the "Mystery Lady" to undermine Bradford and Daniel's positions at Meade Publications; Christina's temporary switch to Wilhelmina's side in an attempt to boost her career; the truth behind the murder of Fey Sommers and the death of Daniel's older brother Alex; Ignacio's immigration status and health problems; and Hilda's struggle to find a new career and salvage her relationship with Justin's dad.

Season 2
Main article: Ugly Betty (season 2)

The season's theme was "Brighter, Bolder, Bettyer" with a reworked version of Mika's "Hey Betty (You Are Beautiful)" being used as the featured song in its promos. Nine new recurring characters, played by Freddy Rodríguez, Illeana Douglas, Alec Mapa, David Blue, John Cho, Gabrielle Union, Gene Simmons, Eddie Cibrian were introduced. Lorraine Toussaint continued in her role as Claire's fellow prison escapee, Yoga, as a recurring character. Production was halted in November 2007 due to the Writers Guild of America strike; ultimately the season episode order was cut to 18 instead of a proposed 23. New episodes did not air on U.S. television until April 24, 2008, starting with "Twenty Four Candles", and ending on May 22, 2008, with "Jump". This was the last episode to be produced in Los Angeles.

Major plotlines this season include the following: the love triangle between Betty, Henry, and a deli shop worker named Giovanni "Gio" Rossi; Claire's escape from prison, recapture, and trial for the murder of Fey Sommers; the aborted wedding of Wilhelmina Slater and Bradford Meade; Daniel and Alexis's power struggle after their father's death; Amanda's search for her biological father; Marc's relationship with fashion photographer Cliff St. Paul; Hilda's attempt to start her new beautician career and a relationship with Justin's gym teacher; Christina's reunion with her ailing husband; and Wilhelmina's scheme to conceive an heir to the Meade fortune using Bradford's sperm.
 

Season 3
Main article: Ugly Betty (season 3)

ABC renewed the series for a third season on February 11, 2008. In addition, production was moved to New York City from Los Angeles to make the series more realistic and to take advantage of increased tax incentives in New York. The third season premiered on September 25, 2008. This season added ten new recurring regulars, played by Grant Bowler, Mark Consuelos, Heather Tom, Val Emmich, Ralph Macchio, Sarah Lafleur, Bernadette Peters, Lauren Velez and Daniel Eric Gold. Lindsay Lohan, Julian De La Celle, Derek Riddell and Eddie Cibrian returned from the second season for more appearances. "The Show" by Australian singer Lenka is used as the promo theme for the season. This season dealt with Betty and Marc getting into the YETI Program. In the YETI Program, Betty gets teamed up with a sports magazine employee named Matt Hartley. As they get to know each other Betty finds out that Matt comes from a very wealthy family after Matt’s attempts to financially save Betty’s family from facing eviction from their home. They eventually start dating and become a couple. Meanwhile, Daniel falls in love with Connor's girlfriend, Molly, despite knowing that she has cancer and might not make it. All the while, Connor begins dating Wilhelmina without Daniel and Molly knowing. Connor swindles the company and escapes the country, leaving Wilhelmina behind. Wilhelmina bribed Christina to be a surrogate for her unborn child with Claire’s deceased husband Bradford. After the child was born, Christina realizes that the child she gave birth to for Wilhelmina is actually her own child. Therefore, her and Stuart decide to sneakily steal the baby from Wilhelmina and flee to Scotland, until they were caught by the police. Later on, Wilhelmina hands baby Will over to Christina and Stuart and the couple eventually move back to Scotland with their son. By the season finale, Betty gets promoted to Features Editor (at Marc's cost). Daniel and Molly get married, but Molly devastatingly passes away from cancer at the end of the season.
 

Season 4
Main article: Ugly Betty (season 4)

The fourth season premiere in the United States aired in October 2009 on a new night and time. After three seasons on Thursday nights, the show was moved to the Friday night death slot amid protests from its fans. Beginning on January 6, 2010, the show aired Wednesdays at 10:00 pm Eastern/9:00 pm Central time. Season four shows Betty adapting to her new position as an associate features editor at Mode. Adam Rodriguez plays Bobby Talercio, Hilda Suarez's boyfriend (later fiancé, then husband). Hilda was previously dating Coach Tony Diaz, played by Rodriguez' Season 8 replacement on CSI: Miami, Eddie Cibrian. Several promos featured the M People song "Moving on Up".

On January 27, 2010, ABC confirmed that the series would end in April, at the same time as reducing the season length from 22 to 20 episodes. The last episode aired on April 14, 2010.

The fourth season premiered in the United Kingdom on August 11, 2010 on E4 and August 15, 2010 on Channel 4. The season Finale aired on December 22, 2010 on E4. The finale showed Daniel realizing he has feelings for Betty and Betty is finally leaving Mode for good; he surprises Betty one day in London, telling her that he has left Mode and is going to stay around and look for a new career opportunity.

One Tree Hill ♥

Oooh, I like this serial very muuch!

One Tree Hill is an American teen, young adult television drama created by Mark Schwahn, which premiered on September 23, 2003 on The WB Television Network. After its third season, The WB merged with UPN to form The CW Television Network, and since September 27, 2006 the network is the official broadcaster for the show in the USA. The show is set in the fictional town of Tree Hill in North Carolina and originally follows the lives of two half-brothers, Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty). Their relationship evolves from heartless enemies to caring brothers, and the basketball drama, as well as the brothers' on-again/off-again romances with female characters, are significant elements within the series.

The first four seasons of the show focus on the main characters' high school years. With the beginning of the fifth season, Schwahn decided to skip the timeline four years ahead, showing their lives after college. In the seventh season, he adjusted the timeline fourteen months into the future after the sixth season. The opening credits were originally intertwined with the song "I Don't Want to Be" by Gavin DeGraw playing in the background. The theme was removed from the opening in the fifth season; Schwahn said the decision was made to lower production costs, add more time for the storyline, and because he felt that the song was more representative of the main characters' adolescent past, not their present maturity. The credits then only consisted of the title written on a black background. The theme was restored for Season 8, due to audience demand, and is sung by different artists each week.

The series' second season was the highest rated in the series, averaging 4.3 million viewers weekly and a 1.9 Adults 18-49 rating. It has also won Teen Choice Awards. On May 12, 2009, it was confirmed that Murray and Hilarie Burton declined to return for the seventh season, although stories on what transpired vary. Their characters (Lucas and Peyton) had been two of the five main protagonists, as well as one of the central love stories, throughout the show.

On May 17, 2011, One Tree Hill was renewed for a ninth season, with a 13-episode order. Original cast members Bethany Joy Galeotti and Sophia Bush are signed on for a final season, while James Lafferty is expected to return part-time. Season nine will be the final season, and will air mid-season.

Plot
The main storyline is originally the relationship between the two half-brothers Lucas Scott (Chad Michael Murray) and Nathan Scott (James Lafferty), both of whom start out as enemies but bond as friends and as brothers as the show progresses. With the help of Keith (Craig Sheffer), who believes Lucas is a talented basketball player, Coach Brian "Whitey" Durham (Barry Corbin) recruits Lucas on the team. Nathan has the same love for basketball as Lucas. As Lucas falls in love with Peyton Sawyer (Hilarie Burton), who happens to be Nathan's girlfriend and later ex, Nathan falls in love with Lucas' best friend, Haley James (Bethany Joy Galeotti). Lucas later dates and falls in love with Brooke Davis (Sophia Bush). Both brothers share the same father, Dan Scott (Paul Johansson), who is also Keith's brother. Backstory given is that after having a high school relationship with Karen Roe (Moira Kelly), Dan conceived Lucas but never claimed him as his son; he did claim Nathan. After leaving Karen, he meets and quickly marries Deb Scott (Barbara Alyn Woods), with whom he conceives Nathan. Although having been married for seventeen years, they divorce and choose different paths. Deb starts having alcoholic problems on and off, until she finally recovers. She also begins a strong friendship, and later partnership, with Karen against Dan's will. However, in the later seasons, the show focuses less on them and the three of them leave the show. Karen marries her college professor, Andy Hargrove (Kieren Hutchison), Dan realizes his sins and temporarily leaves the town, and Deb returns to Tree Hill after an absence but eventually leaves again.

The first season deals with the first half of the main teenage characters' junior years (up to the playoffs). Major storylines include the rivalry between Lucas and Nathan, the blossoming of Nathan and Haley's relationship, the setup of the Peyton-Lucas-Brooke love triangle, along with the parents' own love quadrangle, and the basketball state championship.

The second season puts aside basketball and explores new romances. These romances consist of Lucas and Anna Taggaro (Daniella Alonso), Jake Jagielski (Bryan Greenberg) and Peyton, and Felix Taggaro (Michael Copon) and Brooke. Also featured is the unrequited love of Mouth McFadden (Lee Norris) for Brooke, the disintegration of Nathan and Haley's marriage, largely due to character Chris Keller, Peyton's temporary drug problem and related issues, and the repercussions of Dan's genetic disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy – especially on Lucas. Karen goes back to school, beginning a relationship with her teacher, Andy Hargrove, in addition to starting the Tric club. Also in this season, a troubled Deb struggles with an addiction.

The third season puts the focus back on basketball and features the arrival of trouble-maker Rachel Gatina (Danneel Harris), who stirs drama in the Brooke-Lucas romance, the resurfacing of Peyton's romantic feelings for Lucas, Jake and Peyton's relationship drawing to a close, while Nathan and Haley reconcile and plan a wedding. Chris Keller exits the season permanently. Dan has a major subplot trying to solve the murder attempt made on his life during the previous season's cliffhanger. A major episode involving most of the main cast in a hostage situation at Tree Hill High ("With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept") culminates with Peyton getting shot in the leg and almost dying due to significant blood loss, and Dan murdering Keith.

The fourth season features the second infamous Peyton-Lucas-Brooke love triangle. Haley's pregnancy is threatened by Nathan's risky forays into gambling and loan sharks. Peyton is stalked by an impostor (referred to as Psycho Derek by the group) posing as her half-brother Derek. Lucas and the real Derek come and save her. Lucas looks for the truth behind his uncle's death, as visions of Keith lead him to suspect Jimmy did not kill him, while Dan is rekindling his romance with Karen. It also sees Lucas and Peyton entering into an official romantic relationship, the Chase Adams (Stephen Colletti) and Brooke romance, and the growing friendship between Brooke and Rachel. Chris Keller makes an appearance, and the group enjoy a "real prom" after theirs is ruined by incidents such as further interactions with Psycho Derek. The season builds up to Lucas discovering Dan killed Keith, the group's graduation from high school and Haley and Karen having their babies.

The fifth season jumps forward in time four-plus years. The gap is sometimes shown in flashback as the characters struggle with adulthood and return to the town of Tree Hill for various reasons. Lucas, a published author, is in a committed relationship with his editor, Lindsey Strauss (Michaela McManus), which becomes a love triangle when Peyton returns from a failed music career in Los Angeles. The marriage of Nathan and Haley goes into crisis as Nathan faces major depression after being seriously injured. Brooke looks for life beyond success in her work life and helps Peyton launch a music label. Lucas and Skills return to the Tree Hill Ravens as coaches and later asks Nathan to help with hot shot player Quentin.

The sixth season features the progression of the romance between Lucas and Peyton, as they plan a wedding and deal with Peyton's dangerous pregnancy. Brooke takes in a foster child, Sam, and fights her mother for control of her company. A major storyline follows Lucas as his book is optioned for a film, and Julian Baker (Austin Nichols) is introduced. Mouth and Millicent Huxtable (Lisa Goldstein) work on their relationship as Nathan and Haley reach for their individual dreams.

The seventh season is set one year into the future after the sixth season, without former co-stars Chad Michael Murray and Hilarie Burton. It introduces two new regular characters: Haley's free spirited sister Quinn; and Nathan's agent Clay. Also, Danneel Harris who portrayed Rachel, appears in a ten-episode arc this season, starting with the second episode. Austin Nichols, who portrays Julian Baker, and Jana Kramer, who portrays Alex Dupree, were promoted to full series regulars. The first half of the season focuses on Quinn and Clay's developing relationship after the death of Clay's wife, Sarah. Nathan's NBA career gets jeopardized due to a growing scandal that affects Haley. Dan becomes a motivational speaker with the support of his new wife, Rachel Gatina. Brooke releases her new clothing line, and faces conflicts with Julian and Alex. The second half of the season deals with Haley's depression due to her mother's death. Clay is faced with an obsessive Katie, eventually involving Quinn. At the end of the season, the Tree Hill gang travel to Utah for the premiere of Julian's completed film, and Katie attempts to murder both Quinn and Clay.

The eighth season centers around the progression of Quinn and Clay's relationship after surviving a life threatening attack, the awaited marriage between Brooke Davis and Julian Baker and the birth of Haley's second child. Another love triangle is formed between Chase, Mia and Alex, while Mouth and Millie rekindle their relationship together. As the season continues, Quinn attempts to capture Katie while Julian and Brooke explore adoption options and Nathan prepares to change his career path. A horrific storm reaches Tree Hill and leaves Brooke and Jamie's lives in danger. Katie returns to get revenge on Quinn. Julian's mother arrives and clashes with Brooke.

The ninth season (and final season) Will have Brooke and Haley balancing family life with running a busy Karen's Cafe, while Nathan travels more as an agent. A possible wedding may occur with Mouth and Millie, or Clay and Quinn.
 

 Cast and characters
Original cast 

Chad Michael Murray portrays Lucas Scott. Lucas and Nathan start out as enemies but bond as friends and as brothers as the show progresses. Lucas's best friend is Haley James, and he is a romantic interest for Peyton Sawyer and Brooke Davis at the same time. Lucas becomes interested in Peyton, but when Peyton is not yet ready for a serious relationship, he moves on to Brooke. Peyton later reconsiders what Lucas means to her, telling him that she does want to be with him, and Lucas soon realizes that he never got over Peyton. Reunited, the two secretly date while Lucas is still dating Brooke. Once Brooke finds out about Lucas and Peyton's affair, Peyton ends the romance out of respect for Brooke. Lucas has a one-night stand with Nicki, but his relationships with Peyton and Brooke are later mended, and his love for the two continue to be an issue throughout most of the series. Aside from basketball, his greatest passion is literature; quotes from the books he reads are used on the show. Lucas tries to find a balance between basketball, his genetic heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and his love life. Season 6 was Murray's last season as Lucas. 

 James Lafferty portrays Nathan Scott, the son that Dan did claim, although his relationships with both his parents are strained even at the best of times. In Season 1, he and Lucas start out as enemies, but bond as friends and brothers as the show progresses. He initially uses Haley as revenge against Lucas, but not long after emancipating himself, and with permission from her parents, he marries her because of love. Haley is initially threatened by Nathan's sexual experience, but they soon overcome this. Like his father and Lucas, Nathan has a love for basketball and a dream to play in college. However, his dream is complicated as his career on the court becomes tangled with supporting his family.

 Hilarie Burton portrays Peyton Sawyer, whose two greatest passions in life are music and art; she uses her art to express the issues that play out in her life. Brooke Davis is her best friend, and she is also close friends with Haley. In Season 1, Peyton is a cheerleader and dates Nathan, the most popular basketball star in Tree Hill High. She becomes attracted to Lucas after meeting him, and soon falls in love with him. In Season 2, she and Lucas become distant and she turns to drugs. Seeing that she is in turmoil, Lucas calls Jake for her, someone she had began having romantic feelings for near the end of Season 1; the two begin dating and fall in love. Throughout the series, Peyton is met with one tragedy after another and faces the depths of her love for Lucas. Whether things are good or bad, Lucas is always there for Peyton. Season 6 was Burton's last season as Peyton.

 Bethany Joy Galeotti (formerly Bethany Joy Lenz) portrays Haley James Scott, the quintessential girl-next-door who is best friends with Lucas Scott. Haley grew up with a large family but often spent her time by Lucas and Karen because she felt they needed her more in their lives. Working as a waitress at Karen's Café, and, more importantly as a tutor at Tree Hill High, has presented Haley with great opportunities, as well as obstacles. Her life is thrown for a loop when Lucas's half-brother Nathan asks her to tutor him. Risking her relationship with Lucas, Haley agrees but on the condition that her best friend is no longer tormented by Nathan and his friends. This moment changes the Scott family dynamic forever and allows a romance between Nathan and her to flourish. Like any relationship, Nathan and Haley experience many ups and downs together throughout the seasons and must deal with the consequences of each others' actions.

 Sophia Bush portrays Brooke Davis. In high school, Brooke is the beautiful captain of the cheerleading squad and is Peyton's best friend but is also very close with Haley. She is girlfriend to Lucas twice. Though her life seems perfect, she is in pain dealing with her distant parents, her friends' inability to originally take her seriously, and the betrayal of Lucas and Peyton when they "date" behind her back. She eventually overcomes the betrayal, and is determined to live a full, happy life.

 Paul Johansson portrays Dan Scott, a once great basketball player, who is father to both Lucas and Nathan, although he originally shuns Lucas. After his marriage to Deb crumbles and she and Nathan try to rid themselves of him, Dan's evil comes to the forefront. After Dan finds Deb sleeping with his brother, Keith, a war begins between the two brothers. Dan tries to make amends for all of his wrong-doings, but constantly battles his inner demons.

 Barry Corbin portrays coach Brian "Whitey" Durham, the Ravens coach for over 35 years, retiring in Season 4. He and Dan never saw eye-to-eye and often bickered over their differing opinions on the team. Whitey often laments the death of his wife, Camilla, and the fact that he did not spend more time with her while she was alive. He retires after the Ravens finally win him the much-coveted NC State Championship title but later takes a coaching position in a college three hours away from Tree Hill, so that Nathan has the chance to play college basketball. Whitey makes an appearance in the Season 6 finale.

 Craig Sheffer portrays Keith Scott, Dan's older, kinder, under-achieving brother. After Dan chose Deb over Karen, Keith helped Karen to raise Lucas (acting as a surrogate father to him) and fell in love with her; but they only get together in Season 3. He has a recurring drinking problem and an ongoing rivalry with his brother. When Dan mistakes him for the one who tried to kill him in the dealership fire, he shoots him after the siege at Tree Hill High, killing him instantly. After his death, Karen gives birth to their daughter, Lily Roe-Scott. Keith haunts Dan as a teen and as an adult ghost, but later forgives him for what he has done. He guides his nephews (Lucas and Nathan) as a sort of guardian angel throughout Season 4.

 Moira Kelly portrays Karen Roe, Lucas's mother. Dan abandoned her after she became pregnant in high school, and with a lot of help from Dan's brother Keith (who, in later years is her lover and father of her second child), Karen raises Lucas to strive for his best potential. She is devastated by Keith's death in Season 3. In Season 4, she gets close to Dan again before learning that he was the one who killed Keith. She gives birth to Keith's daughter, whom she names Lily Roe Scott. In Season 5, Karen is traveling the world with Lily. When she returns for Lucas's wedding, she is accompanied by Andy Hargrove. She also makes an appearance at the end of Season 6.

  Barbara Alyn Woods portrays Deb Scott, Dan's wife and Nathan's mother. Originally benefiting from a normal psyche, she later turns neurotic. Married to Dan for seventeen years has made her bitter and sad, and she eventually divorces him in Season 3, her hatred of him driving her to attempt to kill him at one point. Deb battles a pill addiction in Season 2 and again in Season 4, but overcomes it for good the second time. She also makes a return during Season 6, as Nathan and Hayley have some problems with nannies for their child. They decided that Deb would be the most suitable candidate.









 Additional cast 

 Lee Norris portrays Marvin "Mouth" McFadden, one of Lucas's oldest friends, originating from the Rivercourt. His father is named Joey, and his grandad is named Mel. Mel has alzheimers and so cannot remember portions of his life, such as the 50 years he was married. Mouth is somewhat unlucky in love, being the victim of Brooke's unrequited love in Season 2, being dumped by Erica when she becomes popular and falling for Rachel, only to get sidelined for the older Cooper. GiGi, his co-sports announcer, has also broken up with him after only seeing him for a few weeks and Shelly Simon runs out on him after he loses his virginity to her. In Season 5, he has a fling with his boss, Alice, before finally settling down with Millicent.

 Antwon Tanner portrays Antwon "Skills" Taylor, one of Lucas' oldest friends, originating from the Rivercourt. He takes on a more prominent role in Season 4 when he fills Lucas's vacancy on the Ravens. In Season 5, he becomes the assistant Head Coach of The Ravens basketball team and lives with Mouth, Junk and Fergie.

 Danneel Harris portrays Rachel Gatina, who moves to Tree Hill in Season 3. After joining the cheerleading squad, she instantly clashes with Brooke as she pursues Lucas, although Brooke and Rachel later become friends. In Season 5, Rachel is a former employee of Brooke's and a heroin addict who takes an overdose after being fired by her friend. Brooke brings Rachel back to Tree Hill to help get her life back on track but Rachel leaves again, taking a load of Brooke's cash with her, after an encounter with Victoria. In the seventh season, Rachel returns to the screens as Dan Scott's new wife.

  Jackson Brundage portrays Jamie Scott, Nathan and Haley's highly intelligent son. Jamie sees Nathan as a role-model. He is first introduced in the fifth season, and continues to act as a comic relief or a psych to other characters when they reveal their problems to him throughout the fifth, sixth and seventh seasons, where he is now age seven.

 Lisa Goldstein portrays Millicent Huxtable, Brooke's assistant for Clothes over Bros. She is involved in a romantic relationship with Marvin "Mouth" McFadden. In the Season 6 premiere, she moves to Omaha with him. She returns to Tree Hill during the fifth episode to work for Brooke in her new store. She reunites with Mouth only to enter a series of mishaps.

  Austin Nichols portrays Julian Baker, Peyton's ex-boyfriend from L.A.. He initially comes to Tree Hill to win Peyton back. He offers to produce a film, based on Lucas's first book. At first, Peyton does not reveal to Lucas that Julian is her ex-boyfriend, but she is forced to do when the plans of the movie takes form. Lucas beats up Julian, and hates him, but when the episodes of season six progresses, he and Lucas bond while talking plans over the film. Brooke rebuffs his advances until Peyton gives her blessing because she sees that Brooke has serious interest in Julian. Brooke, However, is still unable to open her heart to anyone until Victoria convinces her to not go in the same way as her mother. Brooke and Victoria reconcile and Brooke flies to L.A. to say "I love you, too" back to Julian. Brooke's confession is successful, as Julian and Brooke's relationship is blossoming at the start of the seventh season. He has since made a break out film, and has proposed to Brooke who has accepted.

  Robert Buckley portrays Clay Evans, Nathan's sports agent. He is pretty reckless when it comes to love; however, it is revealed in "I and Love and You" that his true love was his late wife Sarah whom he met in college. As a young, married couple, Sarah was Clay's emotional rock, particularly as his career blossomed. Sarah collapsed and died suddenly, leaving Clay a widower. When Nathan's season ends, he has problems finding another team that will pick up Nathan to play for the team. In the seventh season, engages in a healthy relationship with Quinn, Haley's sister. The two must overcome a death in the family and a psycho stalker.

 Shantel VanSanten portrays Quinn James, the older free spirited sister of Haley. She returns to Tree Hill for Jamie's seventh birthday. At first, it looks like she is staying for a few days. She reveals to Haley that she left David, her husband, commenting that she feels like she is sleeping next to a stranger. She begins a relationship with Nathan's agent, Clay. They keep it a secret for a while, as Nathan tried to sway Clay from dating Quinn due to Clay's many women and one-night stands, but she falls in love with him and their relationship is a success even after Taylor comes to dinner claiming to date Quinn's ex-husband, the death of her mother and Katie, who is obsessed with Clay. Both Clay and Quinn are shot by Katie and left for dead at the end of the season 7 finale.

 Jana Kramer portrays Alex Dupre (Alice Whitehead), an actress turned model who moved to Tree Hill to become the new face of Brooke's fashion line, Clothes Over Bros. After standing naked in front of Julian, Brooke fires her for being 'the high school Brooke'. She also befriends Millicent, despite a bitter start. Alex at first begins to have feelings for Julian, as he is the only one to see her true potential and never ask for anything in return, but she realizes that he is in love with Brooke and nothing will ever happen between the two. In the season 7 finale, Alex is shown having feelings for Chase, who decides to go on a date with her, just in time for him to receive a text message from Mia apologizing and wanting to get back together.

 Stephen Colletti portrays Chase Adams, TRIC's bar manager and Brooke's ex-boyfriend. He was originally introduced in senior year of high school as a clean-teen member who caught the eye of Brooke, whom he lost his virginity to. He took over from TRIC after Owen's drinking problem returned. Chase began a relationship with Mia, but she ended things after realizing it won't work as she's always on tour. A new love triangle has developed as he is torn between Mia and Alex. Chase later decides to give both of the girls a break. The girls form a truce in which neither of them will pursue Chase, but Alex breaks the truce when she kisses him, Mia is not aware of the kiss.

 Tyler Hilton portrays Chris Keller, first appeared in season two, Chris Keller was seen an arrogant, selfish guy, who constantly referred to himself in the third person. He connects with Haley in the second season through her music, and ultimately succeeds in breaking up Nathan and Haley. Chris makes a return in season three, on the request of Nathan, to help Haley find herself again. Chris also finds himself interacting with Brooke more this time round, and also having a one night stand with her, causing problems for her and Lucas. Chris also made a short appearance in a special episode of season four, returning while on tour, helps the gang find Mouth in a town called Honeygrove. Chris now makes a surprise return in the season nine premier. Details of his return are believed to be in order to help Haley run Red Bedroom records.